The dawn of urban air mobility and vertiports
We all may soon be witnessing electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL) zipping across the skies of metropolitan areas around the globe. In 2022, FAA approved vertiport standards for the United States. More recently, plans have been set forth for the development of vertiports in a number of American cities, as well as overseas.
Proposed vertiport on Vas Island in Abu Dhabi – Source: skyports.net
These may be located on ground-based sites or atop buildings and other suitable structures. The ground-breaking differences in urban air mobility will include:
- Quieter operations using electric aircraft
- Zero emissions
- Smaller footprints than traditional airports due to the vertical takeoff/landing ability of the aircraft, though these may be larger than existing heliports.
- Likelihood of future unmanned operations for parcel and freight services.
- Flights at 5,000 feet or below
Example of an United Parcel Service eVTOL aircraft – Source: simplifying.com
For city planners, these air mobility facilities (a.k.a. air taxis) will become more and more common as we move further into the second half of the 2020s. And this trend will continue to takeoff numerically over the next several decades. If you think this is just a pipe dream, take note that as of February 2025, more than 1,500 vertiports are currently planned around the globe with approximately 25 percent of those now contracted.
Source: urbanairmobilitynews.com
If your community is home to a commercial or business-related airport, has a dynamic downtown, port facilities, major sport stadiums, or clusters of major business headquarters, major parcel distribution facilities, hospitals, and universities, it will no-doubt become a focus of attention for urban air mobility operations. NOW is definitely the time to begin preparing your master plans and zoning regulations for the dawn of this new age of urban and regional transportation.
Among the many issues to consider for city planners are:
- Ground connections to transit options
- On-site/off-site parking
- Hours of operation
- Landing/takeoff patterns – particularly in relation to other airports and vertiports
- Operation height of aircraft over residential areas – potential sound from rotors
- Lighting
- Landscaping
- Truck traffic for parcel and freight operations
- Emergency services and security
Below are brief summaries of some of the vertiport projects that are open and operational or under development. Peace!
ABU DHABI, UAE
Three (3) vertiports are planned including Yas Island, where the new Disney theme park is planned, Bateen, and Khalifa Port.
Proposed vertiport at Bateen, Abu Dhabi, UAE – Source: skyports.net
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, USA
Vertiport Chicago has opened just to the west of The Loop. Electric air taxis, include planned service by United Airlines will initially connect the vertiport with O’Hare International Airport.
“The early launch routes will focus in on airport to city center transportation service, which are referred to as “trunk” routes. Once the trunk routes have been established, the next step will be to build out “branch” routes to connect to surrounding communities.”
Source: vertiportchicago.com
United Airlines intends to serve Vertiport Chicago with urban mobility air taxis from Archer Aviation – Source: design boom.com Vertiport Chicago – center of the image
COLOGNE/BONN, GERMANY
Possible sites for a vertiport at the Cologne Bonn Airport – Source: researchgate.net
DUBAI, UAE
Four (4) vertiports are planned in Dubai, with the first approved site at Dubai International Airport. This location is to be named Dubai International Vertiport (DXV). Service by commercial air taxis is to begin in 2026.
Concept design for Dubai International Vertiport – Source: aaminternational.com
HOUSTON, TEXAS, USA
A proposed urban air mobility network is being developed in the Houston area.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA
Archer Aviation’s proposed air mobility (taxi) network for Los Angeles – Source: investors.archer.com
NEW YORK CITY, NY, USA
Downtown Skyport (formerly the downtown Manhattan Heliport).
Downtown NYC Skyport – Source: aaminternational.com
ORLANDO, FLORIDA, USA
A new vertiport at Orlando International airport is expected to open in 2028.
Proposed Orlando Vertiport – Source: evaint.com
OSAKA, JAPAN
Osaka Metro opened its first vertiport (OsakaKo) for demonstrations during the Expo 2025 World’s Fair. Three more vertiports are planned in the metropolitan area.
New OsakaKo Sertiport in Osaka, Japan – Source: alojapan.com
ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
Vertiport Galileo opened in 2023 as a drone vertiport at Future Mobility Park in Rotterdam.
Vertiport Galileo – Source: porttechnology.org
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, USA
TechPort San Antonio is being developed by Port San Antonio.
Rendering of TechPort San Antonio’s vertiport – Source: portsanantonio.us Source: portsanantonio.us
SEBRING, FLORIDA, USA
Even some smaller cities like Sebring are considering the air mobility future. A vertiport is scheduled to be added to the Sebring Regional Airport in 2026 as a mid-state location for connecting to multiple major airports in the Sunshine State.
Testing facilites:
Bicester, England, UK
Pontoise-Cormeilles, France
SOURCES:
#airMobility #airTaxis #airTraffic #airTravel #airports #aviation #cities #environment #eVTOL #FAA #geography #landUse #planning #transportation #travel #urbanMobilityAircraft #vertiports
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